Pray like a girl, fight like a girl
My body aches as I say this: you should not enjoy fighting and violence. Yet, I’ve always loved martial arts. I started young, enjoyed striking and kicking a little too much, and nearly got a black belt. My sensei even encouraged me to enter speed competitions, right before I had to quit.
My father was a black belt, a professional swimming instructor, an army sniper (fortunately, never called to battle), and eventually an engineer. Not related, but his best friend - my uncle - has a wall full of weapons, and I can’t resist stopping by every time I visit.
My mother had a natural gift for ballet, though she never practiced it. Her mother - my absolute diva of a grandma - was an excellent tango and waltz dancer. Perhaps this is why I ended up drawn to weapons, engineering, diving, and a love for ballet though I never practiced it myself, along with tutus and whatever treasures a woman’s wardrobe might hold. Thank you, Granny. Naturally, I always have to stop by her wardrobe.
frontline
While this may seem like my natural character, I have worked on it and continue to especially in spiritual matters. Every woman has this dual approach to life. You can learn to wield a chainsaw if needed, while also spending half an hour choosing a nail color. These seemingly opposite skills can coexist even in spirituality.
You are constantly watched by your angel, by God and also by demons. I don’t want to alarm you, but this is most likely true. My strongest advice: never speak to them, nor even acknowledge them. Do you know what Saint Teresa of Ávila once said? She was frightened by a noise in the corridor, thinking a robber had entered the monastery. When she realized it was a demon, she calmly said, “Oh, it’s just you, nvm lol” and went back to sleep.
Let me put these memo notes out which are not theories but tactics, lessons learnedthe hard way, for the battles we face every day.
gaze off
You hear me? Ignore them as if they were your greatest enemy - spoiler: they are. If you give them attention, they gain influence over you. Don’t be curious about their names or what they do in their realm. No. Disregard them. Never acknowledge them. If you do, you’re applying for war which no one ever recommends. Once, I acknowledged one and said, “Do whatever you want, I’m not afraid of you.”
The result? I spent the day flat on my back, vomiting from excruciating ovarian and uterine pain. God allowed it to teach me never, ever to speak, answer, or challenge them again. I didn’t know better then, so don’t be foolish like me. Some of us can see them; some can feel them. When I do, I simply channel Saint Teresa’s masterclass indifference and move on. Sometimes they linger in corners, sometimes they stand before doors - it’s ugly, but I won’t give them power. Excuse me while I walk right through you.
Ignore them even when they disturb your sleep. When they frighten you or twist your dreams, do not engage in their foolish narrative. Instead, call aloud the name of Jesus or Mary. Why Mary? Because demons flee at her name — they detest her. No saint, living or departed, is more despised. Saint Padre Pio once said, “Hail Jesus! Hail Mary!” in his confessional, and a demon, disguised as a man, burst into flames, leaving behind a stench of sulfur.
Don’t even bother saying “Go away.” It won’t.
Reciting Scripture helps in moments of fear, but let God do the fighting. The mission’s success rate is significantly higher that way.
brain ready
That’s another crucial point. Fighting like a lady means using the brain like a spy.
It includes knowing what to wear, where to go, mapping the exits, selecting the right weapon from the table, and identifying the nearest spot to strike if needed. We fight with our brains. We’re not built for brute violence, but we can be shielded and relentless in spirit. In practical combat, our greatest asset isn’t muscle or mass — it’s speed and sharp thinking. Remove either, and you’re done.
Patience is also our ally. When mastered, it turns us into a terrifying opponent for the demons.
In daily life, the formula is simple: speed + quick thinking + patience = humble yet unstoppable. Pray the moment your instinct tells you something’s off. Look into people’s eyes - see what lies before you: hatred, jealousy, affection, lust. The eyes, chico - if you feel something, it’s probably worth noticing. Not everyone has this sensitivity, and that’s fine. I don't either, but I encountered people under demonic influence and after that, I never looked at eyes the same way. It’s like after facing death you see death eater. Remember: you’re not fighting against flesh and blood. When you’re in conflict or facing someone difficult, discern what’s really happening and show mercy to the person.
Finally, observe yourself. What are you battling these days? What’s your recurring temptation or weakness? Confess it, hand it to God but also trace back how it started, and avoid rebuilding the place where it was born.
ammo
Once you understand that you must ignore demons and stay alert -hyper vigilant - wherever you are, you’ll need a proper supply of ammo. For some reason, we carry within us a deep connection to God, perhaps sometimes even deeper than men. If that’s even remotely true, it could explain why we’re so easily attacked: demons despise us.
Can I describe a woman in prayer as someone opening up multiverses? Because that’s what it feels like, as if the spiritual realm unfolds, like the maya veil being briefly lifted from the eyes and fire in the chest.
When I’m deep in prayer, I can sense my angel, or the Father’s love resting over me or something else but the point is that I feel a lot. So of course the devil hates that moment. You become a weapon. You can be a soldier of God without ever stepping outside. Imagine how frustrating that must be for him, that's a win win for us.
So, girl, do your job. Get your ammo ready. Are we on the same page?What’s your ammo? Both the Orthodox and Catholic traditions offer an immense arsenal: the rosary, the komboskini, and countless prayers for every situation. Choose a few that resonate deep inside you - the ones that vibrate in your chest - memorize them, and recite them whenever you can. Latin? Even better. Hebrew? You go, girl.
And remember: you can never have too much holy water or blessed oil. Keep them on your nightstand and in your purse.
Select your sacred ammunition wisely and use it.
fight gear
After you’ve selected your ammo, you also need to wear your fight gear. You may not realize it, but symbols work — even when you don’t believe in them. Crosses are powerful against demon-possessed individuals. The same principle applies the other way around: a demonic symbol on you has influence, even if you’re unaware of it.Once, while watching Harry Potter - widely known as rich in symbolism - I noticed a tattoo on Harris’s uncle’s chest, paused the movie, stared at it, and thought, “That’s not right.” I googled it, and sure enough, it was the sigil of a well-known female demon associated with lust. An AI explained that while it’s fine to research these things for awareness, the more you expose yourself to such symbols on your screen, in your home, in your thoughts the more they affect you. Especially if you're spiritually "open". So if you’re truly against anything demonic, get to know these signs only to recognize them and avoid them the next time - do not research out of curiosity. Personally, I avoid them altogether. The only reason I looked once was because it appeared right in front of me. I’m quite sure I won’t do it again.
Demons are intelligent far more than we imagine and if they can convince you that you can face them, they will, and then you find yourself confronting them.
Stay away from any symbol not coming from the Church which are many - far more than you think and wear your cross at all times.
Carry your komboskini or rosary like a rifle [but use it].
A passionate opinion: we don’t need to know everything; yes, we are heirs of Aristotle’s reason, but in spiritual warfare, humility wins. Lower your tone, your ears, your tail and accept that you know nothing. Shield your soul from those who claim to “know” unless of course they are priests, nuns, or monks and shield them, too - from your disappointed face. Be kind, smile, and move on.
reload
When I say I’m sure you don’t know all the symbols, I mean it - there are countless. And that brings us to another vital weapon in this fight: knowledge.
The more you know where not to go, the safer you are. Notice that I said where not to go. Because again, you don’t need to know everything. What matters is taking responsibility for your choices: knowing which paths not to take, whose words not to believe, which books or websites not to dig into. Period. Point blank.
Your knowledge should focus on what you feel is foundational to your faith. I wasn’t born a theology student, I was driven to it by the sheer ignorance I saw in myself and around me, which I could no longer stand. I couldn’t defend Jesus or my faith - ever. I had to hear absurd theories and self-made opinions about the Church and hear arguments and hear people get mad at me for believing. Anger pushed me toward study and later, I realized that anger was God’s own method, feeding my hunger for truth.
But knowledge isn’t a walk on the beach.
I still remember a professor saying, “Theology is painful because you must, with eyes closed, demolish every opinion you ever had about your faith - to rebuild what is true.” And he was right.
If you’re already grown and your opinions are set in stone, you might resist true knowledge but when you finally look deep and admit you know nothing, that’s when knowledge takes root. Theology doesn’t care about opinions. It doesn’t care about your feelings. Ouch.
Later, I realized how starving I had been for truth and when I finally received it, I cried; suddenly, everything made sense.
So, sister, go read. Pick up the books of the saints, the Church Fathers, ancient history, medieval history and chew on some ecclesiology while you’re at it. It may feel like chewing ice - uncomfortable if there's sensitivity - but it’s crucial. It teaches you the empire you are standing your ground for, who you are fighting for.
mission debrief
Keep on praying, for they won’t stop coming at you.
This is what I mean by fighting: constancy. We are not built for rough physical battles, but we are made for a relentless, silent, humble fight. Whether it’s reading the atmosphere, catching cues in a blink, or praying the very moment the chance appears - that’s how a girl fights - along with constant prayer.
How tough is it? Tough. Big time. Harder than being a Sherlock. Because some days you don’t feel like it; some days you feel like a fraud, or you’re too tired, or too busy. Sometimes things go so well that you let your guard down, or so badly that you can’t catch a breath. And then there are days when you crave attention - beauty, admiration, love that doesn’t come from the Lord - only to find yourself drifting from prayer. The list goes on.
And if you happen to be a little pretty, that’s another battlefield: you’ll have to keep pride in check and tear down selfishness daily - if you’re even aware. If you’re talented, you’ve enlisted for double duty!
That’s your fight.
That’s the body you offer to be crucified with Christ.
That’s when faith becomes discipline, when prayer isn’t about feeling holy but about obedience. Holiness is rarely glamorous; it’s routine, repetition, and quiet endurance; it’s waking up again, whispering a prayer again, forgiving again. That rhythm, invisible to the world, is what shakes hell - and us, sister, are built with this skill.
Hold your ground to your last breath. Pray when you’re weak and angry and hopeless. Observe when you’re tired and identify what's attacking you.
Be kind when you want to withdraw and be kind to yourself when you feel silly, slow, or too weary to learn such difficult topics - trust a theology student, most days you’ll feel that way and it’s normal.
It shapes your mind to be humble and sharp.
Pray. Watch. Endure.
That’s how we win wars no one sees.
